Newborn Photo Session - is it really worth it?

penad5

I've been looking around for someone to take those adorable newborn photos of my little girl once she arrives - and i can't believe the prices!!!!  One photographer wants $400 and i would only get 20 digital photos - no prints!  I was thinking I would pay MAX $250 but so far the cheapest i can find is 325 - so i'm really starting to think it's not worth the money (I mean i thought wedding photographers were expensive but at least i got like 300 photos and a whole day of their time)

Anyone done this with other children - or know people who have?  Is it really worth it?  Or did you find yourself regretting spending so much?  I know prices will change from place to place - just curious on your thoughts

dp21

We are getting photos done, we are paying 600 and getting all the digital rights of the full session.  So I think it will be 60 something photos.  Her sessions last over 3 hours.  I think it will be worth it and we plan to put up the pictures to decorate our house, downstairs, upstairs hallway, and in the nursery.   We used her for our pregnancy announcement/maternity photos (and already spent 300 bucks with her).  So going to be around $1000 total.  We used our announcement/pregnancy photos on our baby shower invites, sent out pregnancy announcement cards, and plan to make birth announcements with the newborn photos.  Also just printed them on canvas and put some up in our upstairs hallway last weekend!  I'm motivated to use these pictures to decorate because we are spending so much! 

gsancho

We'll likely get some.  I think they're more worthwhile than pregnancy photos, but that's just my personal opinion.  Can you ask on FB if anyone recommends a new photographer that would do it cheaper?  Or if you have a relative or friend who is into photography?  We'll either have my MIL do some or one of DHs college friends who recently started her own photography business.  

mrs.willie

Short version: One word... yes!

ETA: It deleted the rest of my post!

Long version: what area do you live in? Definitely check with family, friends or co-workers for recommendations and decent prices. It seems like a lot, but you'll LOVE having them! I wasn't going to because it seemed expensive, so by the time I decided let's do this DS was close to 4 weeks. We used someone DH worked with. We also used him for DS' one year pics and plan to use him again for newborn pics. I think we paid $300 for a 3 hr session(you'll definitely need the time!), 10 edited pics on a cd, online gallery and a $50 print credit.

BabyKsMommy

It's def worth it. Some of my fav pics of my ds are from his newborn session. I just got the twins newborn pics done and I can't wait. The couple I have seen are so cute.

In our area the price is about 100-200 a session. I had a friend give me this newborn session as a baby shower gift. She spent probably 2hrs plus doing editing and is giving me all pics. I should get them today or tomo and I'm so excited!

If u do get them done, do them soon after birth.

Robeano

Yes! I love my newborn pictures of my daughter. Especially cuz they are only so small and squishy for such a short time. With my first I had a Groupon so it was cheaper. This time around we are spending around $300.

If you don't mind the quality not being the absolute best, try checking out photography students, or even a Sears potrait studio. Still better quailty than your cell phone lol.

kmc84

It is very expensive, and I hate paying so much for pictures, but it is SO worth it!!!

missvolvo

Totally worth it!  Luckily I have a friend that does them and I ended up giving her $200.  She spent over 4 hours with the babies and gave us about 50 pictures.  We got them digitally and then printed through Shutterfly.  I agree about asking around and trying to find someone that does them on the side to reduce cost.  

cls78

As a photographer I have to jump in and say that $400 with 20 files is cheap IMHO. (Is this a seasoned photographer?).

Newborn photography is a lot of work. Getting those cute smooshy pictures does not happen in 5 minutes. I have spent up to 2-3 hours working on getting baby to sleep and posed for a session and that is not including the hours I spend at home editing the work and proofing a gallery.

My session fee for Newborns is $200 and that does not include prints or digital files. Just my time and travel.

Every region is different with photography and it also depends on the photographers experience, equipment etc.

Just keep in mind that we are not simply clicking away and are done.

mdiblasi10

Yes! Definitely worth it! You will cherish those images for a very long time. I have huge, huge regrets about not doing maternity and newborn photos with my son. This time around I made sure to book both. And you're right, it isn't cheap. But again, so worth it to me. I prefer digital images and that's what my photographer typically includes in her packages (25 - 50 for each session). I just print/canvas/etc what I want later on. 

shauna78

Definitely worth it and keep in mind that you get what you pay for.  Newborn photography is incredibly hard and takes a ton of time and talent.  It's not simply showing up with a camera and a few props.  Also, the best time for newborn photos is between 5-14 days so if you choose a cheap photographer and hate the pictures, it's probably too late to book another session with a better photographer.  Whoever you choose - make sure you see their portfolio (at least several different sessions) and make sure you like what you see. 

You might try searching for "lifestyle newborn photography" - it's a more relaxed type of session and doesn't involve a lot of posing of the baby.  These types of sessions can be a bit cheaper (depending on photographer) because they take less time. 

Lady2010

I think it is worth it - but I also love photography and photos - and know our LO will only be so little for so long.  The photographer we are using is $350.  We will get at least 40 high-rez images /files that we can then go and make prints from.  The photographer will retain copyright to photos (meaning she can use them for her website, etc) but the files we get of course will not have the copyright logo on the image (just embedded in the file/xcif data).  I think the cost will depend on the photographer and location.  We live in Boston - so it is a city - but perhaps rates aren't as high as other cities like NYC, LA, etc.  I found the photog we are going with via a local mom's board and then evaluating the different styles, etc.

One other item - and this is just me - but I did ask if the photographer was current on their TDaP (within the last 10 years) and had a flu shot this season.  The first photographer I was looking at was less expensive but did not want to disclose their medical info - which is everyone's prerogative.  I just wanted to get someone who had the vaccines since our LO arrives in Jan and it is the height of cold/flu season (and the session is scheduled for sometime the first 2 weeks).  If this is important to you - you should not feel hesitant to ask.  

jessimi06

I'm going to get them done. Our wedding photographer gives us 50% off all photo session fees since we did our wedding for her, so it's only $125 for a newborn, 3month, 6 month, and 12 month combo pack and we can buy the rights of all pics for only $199 per session. It'll end up being pricey at $925 total, but I think it's worth it for 4 photo sessions and all digital rights.

Pintobean39

I've always taken newborn pictures of my friends babies as a gift they just paid for the pictures. It does take a lot of time, not just the session itself. For our baby I'm paying someone. Honestly I don't think that's a bad price. I'd much rather have digital files of the pictures so I can developed them myself. Just remember do not get them developed at Walgreens or CVS, pay a little extra for professional developing, I normally use someone local but mpix is online and does a good job and the quality is better.

penad5

Thanks all.  

Guess i was a bit shocked by the price since my photographer of choice - who did my wedding - is only $325.  She gives you all the digital photos, 10 retouched, plus a 12x12 canvas print.  Too bad she's 3 hours away I don't think i'll want to travel that far with a 1 week old baby.  Plus I LOVE her photos so no one else is really living up to that so hard to justify spending more for something i don't think i'll like as much 

I'm asking around with friends to see who they recommend - but i don't think DH will agree to $400, hopefully i'll find someone i like and can afford! 

Lady2010

@penad5 - any chance she will come to you?  Most of the ones I looked at will come to your house so you don't have to travel with a newborn.

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southernyankeegirl

Often you get what you pay for with photographers. The good ones are pricey!

Using Facebook, we found an amateur who does nice family photos. It was dirt cheap - $35 for the half hour session, $5/photo that we liked for high res digital file, print myself. We did maternity photos and for the price I was very impressed. That said, if I could get to our wedding photographers 1000 miles away, I would gladly pay them $600+ to do photos (and we'll likely use them for family photos some day).

Could you perhaps offer your wedding photographer the chance to travel to you, pay her for travel? Depending on when you're due (mobile and can't see siggies), it might be slow for business and thus totally worth it for her.

lawmom747

Ducky719 said:

My hospital offers newborn photos believe it or not. And cute ones at that. Very reasonably priced. That is the route we are going this time.

THIS. Thank goodness too otherwise I don't think I would have been organized enough the first time to get the photos done myself. Definitely worth it.

Julie21613

Pricey but definitely worth it!  We had them done for DD and plan on having them done should my beans continue to grow!  I love looking at her NB pictures... its so crazy what difference a year makes!

turquoisequeen

I agree with @Pintobean39‌ about getting them professionally printed since you paid to have professional pictures taken. A photographer friend of mine recommends mpix and I have ordered some prints from there and they really do look so much better than other cheaper places.

KT416

Thanks for asking the question-- I was kind of wondering the same thing myself!

@Lady2010, If you don't mind, can I ask what photographer you are going with?

Mrs.McIrish

Yes, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to get those photos. I was amazed at what it took to get the babies in those poses, especially with twins! Someone was always peeing etc so it takes a few hours to stage them and get everyone to cooperate. That said, I found a great photographer locally who only charges $250 and I get the print rights. I think I got about 20 photos. I printed at Mpix.
After everything I went through to get these bsbies, I wanted these special photos.

pblge

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread, and to all those who responded. We hadn't been considering this at all. Still not sure we will, but I'm grateful if for no other reason than the AMAZING photos I got to look at from our local photographers!

Lady2010

KT416 - we are using Anelise Tubinis (https://www.aptubinisphotography.com/)

If you are in the Boston/Greater Boston/Metro-West area, I recommend checking out / joining Garden Moms - it is a local board that has a ton of great info.  Basically local moms who ask questions and the responses are all from other local moms (this is where I found the photographer - someone else asked the question and I sifted through the various recs and found one whose style I liked).  It was recommended to me early on in my pregnancy by an acquaintance and lately all our friends with kids keep telling me to be sure I join - which I already have.  Info in here - things like Ped recs, groups for local moms in different neighborhoods, what to do about xyz (traveling with tots, etc), and much much more.

https://www.bigtent.com/groups/gardenmoms

The main page doesn't look like much - I was skeptical but once you get 'approved' - literally like a day later - you can access the forum which is what I find most helpful.  There is also a classifieds section (I think you can access / select this in set up or once approved) where people buy/sell gently used baby stuff.

rox825

hoppin747 said:

My hospital offers newborn photos believe it or not. And cute ones at that. Very reasonably priced. That is the route we are going this time.

THIS. Thank goodness too otherwise I don't think I would have been organized enough the first time to get the photos done myself. Definitely worth it.

Mine too- we hadn't planned on doing newborn photos but our hospital had a photographer who offered to take them and let us decide whether we wanted to order any.  They turned out fantastic and I'm SO glad that we had the opportunity to have them done.  I absolutely love them and if I ever have another baby will definitely do it again.

rella22

We already booked ours...I feel like its definitely worth it.  I did find when I was trying to pick one that price really did make a difference in photo quality for the most part.  I found one that was perfect for us and I think it will end up costing us around $500 with all the photo rights and a few prints!